LONDON, - The British grocery chain Marks & Spencer was named Compassionate Supermarket 2007 at an award ceremony in London, a trend that will no doubt find it's way to the US. The award was given by leading farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming.

A survey looking at the welfare of a range of animals farmed for supermarket chains revealed that one of the biggest improvements for animal welfare was the growing trend towards supermarkets selling free-range eggs and ditching cruel battery cage eggs.

The survey, conducted every two years, also showed that although supermarkets are improving their welfare policies and practices many of the animals producing the meat, fish, eggs and dairy for the supermarket shelf face unnecessary suffering.

To make it easy for consumers who want to shop compassionately, Compassion in World Farming is recommending what products to look out for when doing the weekly shop. Their guide can be seen at: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/supermarkets.

Marks & Spencer has sold only free range eggs for ten years and more recently stopped selling white veal and next year is committed to only selling rosé veal. Teven Esom, Director of Food, Marks & Spencer said: "High animal welfare is at the heart of our business so it's fantastic news that our efforts have been recognised by Compassion in World Farming.

"In 1997 M&S led the way when it switched to only selling free range eggs. Ten years on we are still making industry leading commitments to further improve animal welfare standards, not least the recent move to ban imported white veal and reduce the stocking density of our chickens."

Lesley Lambert, Director of Research at Compassion in World Farming said "Although we have seen some real progress in terms of farm animal welfare, it must not be forgotten that the majority of farm animals are reared intensively with serious impacts on their welfare. Do not be mistaken, there is still a long way to go. Consumers can use their purchasing power by buying higher welfare products - directly improving animals' lives."